The Angler Magazine | August 2023 | Northeast Florida Edition

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By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon

Athe cooler waters of great depths, deep-water grouper are some of the better tasting sh in the ocean. of deep-water grouper we target o coast of the Florida Keys are snowy grouper and yellowedge grouper. ey are found in depths of 400 to 1,000 feet.

Yellowedge are open year-round, and they can be a little di cult to nd. ey congregate in localized areas in depths between 600 and 800 feet. You might nd snowies and tile sh where you nd yellowedges, but this is not true the other way around. When you nd an area with yellowedge grouper, mark it, save it, and do not over sh it. Keep your harvest light, and this honey-hole will produce for you again in the future.

When making a deep-dropping rig, use larger hooks on the top and bottom of a ve-hook rig. Mustad 11/0 circle hooks provide excellent hookup ratios for this kind of shing. A x larger baits on these hooks, with the bottom intended for yellowedge, and the top intended for snowy grouper. Pepper in smaller ones in the middle for tile sh.

e nice part about dropping ve hooks is you can play with a variety and see what works. e best

to do what it is made to do.

Bait selection can vary greatly, so use anything and everything. I use chunks of fresh sh, with skin that will stay on the hook longer, for my top and bottom hooks, and squid in the middle. At least one hook should have some greasy, oily, stinky squid for deep dropping.

When it comes to catching deep-water species such as grouper, tile sh, barrel sh and rosies, you don’t need to break the bank to get a reliable electric set-up. e lower priced reels can handle these and can be paired with a rod and stacked with line on a budget of $1,000 to $2,000. I don’t recommend buying these used, as everything electronic on the water has a shelf life, and you never know how they were cared for previously.

With mahi-mahi still prevalent in o shore waters, and with snowy grouper still in season, the timing is perfect to hunt yellowedge grouper. If you aren’t interested in the trial and error of searching the depths of the vast ocean by yourself, Sweet

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PHOTO COURTESY OF SWEET E’ NUF CHARTERS.

BILL DANCE SIGNATURE LAKES to Solidify Tennessee as the Heart of Fishing in the Southeast

Bill Dance Signature Lakes will connect the world’s most-loved angler with some of Tennessee’s most excellent natural resources – its lakes. is program is intended to make Tennessee a best-in-class destination for anglers worldwide.

With the new initiative’s goal to improve and enhance Tennessee lakes, increase visitation and honor Dance’s legacy, Tennessee will invest $15 million in improvements above and below the water at 18 lakes that bear shing legend Dance’s stamp of approval. Tennesseans will bene t from increased stocking, habitat and sheries management and improved access for shing and boating. e collaborative e ort between Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Tennessee State Parks and Tennessee Department of Tourist Development seeks to solidify Tennessee as the heart of shing in the southeast and drive economic activity across the state.

“I’m unbelievably humbled and excited to be involved in such a helpful project that will bene t so many people and our natural resources in my great home state of Tennessee,” said Bill Dance. “You can bet your favorite lure this project will have a ripple e ect for a mighty long time, not only giving the weekend sherman but tournament anglers a wonderful shery as well, thanks to the great state of Tennessee and my friends at TWRA.”

Bill Dance Signature Lakes touches 39 counties, including 22 at-risk or economically distressed counties, and is an essential step in helping those communities create new revenue streams through increased visitation. Fishing generates $1.2 billion in economic impact annually and supports 7,480 jobs across the state.

Bill Dance Signature Lakes includes nine large reservoirs with a proven track record for quality shing for a variety of sh. In partnership with the Tennessee Valley Authority, reservoirs will receive new or upgraded best-inclass ramps to improve public access for both recreational and tournament anglers. Each of the 18 lakes will see such above-water upgrades as courtesy docks, ample parking, additional access points, shing piers and signage, to name a few. Several smaller lakes, many which are located within Tennessee State Parks, will be managed intensively by TWRA for Bill Dance approved family shing with regular stocking to ensure the best chance for success.

Projects are slated to begin in 2022 and near completion by the fall of 2024. For more information, see www.tnvacation.com.

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GETS THE FISH

When the low for the month is 82 degrees and the highs average 100, we have to make some modi cations to our lifestyles… and so do the sh. Let’s cover a few opportunities to take advantage of as we try to entice a bite this summer.

In the past I have written about some night shing techniques, but I realize that is not for everyone. However, optimizing your time on the water when the temperatures are at their coolest is imperative.

Water and air temps should be at their coolest just before dawn, and that is prime time to be chunking and winding. I like to be casting at least 30 minutes before the rising sun. I recommend locating an area that will have ample tidal ow. is obviously encourages the sh to feed, and it also helps keep the temperature lower. Pair the moving tide with some structure like shells or deeper water adjacent to a shallow at, and you should be in business. e area obviously needs to be holding bait, also.

Topwater lures are always fun and a popular

choice before and at sunrise in August. Once that bite slows, it’s time to bounce the bottom with some plastics. I try to not specify jighead weight if I am not covering a speci c location because it depends on tide, depth and a score of other variables. I would position myself to cast toward the shallows and bring my lure down the drop o . is is a good method to locate sh and cover di erent depths. Fish could be shallow early and fall o the edge as the sun rises. I also like to vary my retrieve speed, and don’t be afraid to work your lure very slowly ticking the bottom structure. Fish in warm water can become lethargic just as they do in cold water. Another time to hit the water is a er a summer rain. Take advantage of these showers, which cool

the water temps. ese periods can be short-lived depending on the extent and duration of the rain event. Heavy lighting tends to slow the bite a er the storm moves on, so I am not a big fan of shing a er a lightning storm.

I hope these tips can help you catch a few more sh this summer and stay out of the heat. Another bene t of shing early and heading home is you have the rest of the day to do other things. Wear your sun block, stay hydrated, and have a fun summer on the water!

Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures®, and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES®

FIND THE BAIT, FIND THE FISH

Tim Barefoot

August is a pre-transition month, when we’re at the end of summer, and just before the true transition months of September and October. e shing can be hot as a recracker if you pay attention to the bait. is is a pre-staging month for the bait and the bottom sh, as well. Huge schools of cigar minnows and sardines will start their annual migration toward inshore waters for spawning, waiting for the fall and winter.

When o shore bottom shing, I’m looking for large stacks of beeliners as well as cigs and sardines. is is where you nd the sh. Period. Many years ago when I was commercial shing, we would stay for days at a time looking for grouper and snapper. We concentrated on the bait as much as the structure. If you found these two together (bait on a ledge), so much the better, but we o en found sh on slick, at, sand bottom on stacks of bait. We’d anchor on these big stacks of bait and go to work. If the bait school moved, so did the sh… and so did we! We’d y the anchor and move around until we found them again. It was just like magic, with instant bites on the bottom. is is the reason I keep saying, nd the bait, nd the sh. It doesn’t matter where these big stacks of bait go, the sh will follow.

With late summer water temperatures, pelagics like the tunas, wahoo and dolphin are scattered all over the nearshore waters due to the hot water. e water temperatures on the beach will be close to the water temps in the Gulf Stream by now, and the sh will follow bait wherever it goes. In August and September, some unsuspecting king mackerel sherman always catches a stud wahoo trolling live bait on some nearshore stack of bait. I remember wrestling a yellow n for more than an hour on lightweight king mackerel tackle just 10 miles o the

beach. We were bottom shing and had a live cigar minnow out on the light line. Eventually, I lost the ght due to a swivel that couldn’t take it anymore. Ha! Neither could I.

Keep a good eye on the recorder and any surface activity around structure. You know the areas that hold the big schools of cigs and sardines. Keep going back to these places now and into September. is is where you’ll nd what you’re looking for.

I’ve always been a bait freak. Now that I’ve seen more than just a few cycles of what happens through the seasons, I’m better able to see the big picture. Bait moves around for speci c reasons during di erent seasons. Whatever you are shing for requires food to keep them in a place. So… nd the bait, nd the sh.

For more from Capt. Tim Barefoot, check out Barefootcatsandtackle.com.

A nice scamp caught o a big stack of beeliners.

CATCH LATE SUMMER TRIPLETAIL SOAKING IN THE SUN

By Emily Hanzlik

In late summer, the humidity is crazy and the heat wants to take you down. e shing can slow down during this time; however, chilling in the sun is a lifestyle for some sh species.

e tripletail is one of the strangest sh in the ocean. Tripletail are usually dark brown with some lighter shades mixed around, and they can sometimes be yellow, depending on their area. ese sh don’t have a typical body structure. Instead, they have a at almond-shaped body and get their name from the appearance of having three tails, which is an adaptation of enlarged lobes on the posterior ns. ey usually don’t grow any larger than 15 pounds and typically range from 20-30 inches. For their size, they put up a heck of a ght.

Many tagging studies have been done on these sh to track their migrations. However, science has yet to gure it all out. e idea is they move north to south, then back up the coast going no further than Georgia. In the Gulf, they make it as far as Texas. e timing of their movements appears to be random, but it probably depends on currents, since they don’t free swim much.

Sometime during the summer months, tripletail will oat o shore to breed. Like most,

they broadcast spawn, with females producing anywhere from 4 to 8 million eggs. ey can spawn every three to ve days.

When these sh aren’t o shore spawning, they typically hang near lots of structure. You might spot them oating near crab buoys, mangroves, oating leaves and poles in the water. Tripletail are known for mimicking and blending in with their surroundings. is makes it especially di cult while shing to spot these creatures. However, it gives them amazing bene t, since their prey is also hiding in these places. Tripletail usually prey on shrimp, sh and small crabs.

ere are many di erent ways to target tripletail. Since they aren’t big swimmers, you’ll normally nd them oating around with seaweed or next to buoys. You can pitch baits, like live shrimp, to target them. Usually, you’ll want to use a small live bait hook without a weight to get a natural dri in front of them. If live bait isn’t your style, you can also use small jigs or swimbaits to grab their attention. Another great way is y shing. Here, you’ll want a y that mimics a small shrimp or bait sh. When targeting them, make sure to nd which end is their face. en try to dri your o ering in front of their nose.

e current IGFA all-tackle world record is

42 pounds. It was caught in South Africa in 1989.

Emily Rose Hanzlik holds 62 IGFA world records in various categories. She hails from West Palm Beach, where she has a part time Bow n Guide Service as well as shing classes for Jr. Anglers. Find her on social media @emilyhanzlikoutdoors.

PHOTO COURTESY OF AMY LOCKHART

Let’s grow with Florida together.

Fishing Report & Forecast Mayport

By Capt. Kirk Waltz

The heat of the summer is on and summer is now at its peak. Continue to see big schools of bait pushing onto the beach for the month of august. This is a big plus for hungry predators. These large menhaden pods will hold schools of tarpon and sharks feeding in the early afternoon and morning hours. Jack Cravelle and kingfish will usually patrol the border edges and crash them when their bio clocks go off. This bonanza can be a blast when you are looking for some midsummer action and amped up fun! Catch a few baits and pitch them into the pods for big fish rod bending action. My rod of choice is a Shimano Saragosa 6000 coupled with some 60lb PowerPro braid and a med 7ft Teramar spinning rod. Tie on a small piece of 40lb wire a no# 6- 4x live bait hook and pitch this back into the melee. If after a few casts nothing occurs try placing a small float aprox. 2-3ft above the hook and pitch back into the pod. Both methods work well. Sometimes the fish can be shy and you need to try a piece of 80lb fluorocarbon instead of wire. Look for the water explosions to identify which schools are being fed on.

The near shore beach fishing should have kings, jacks, some cobia, bonita, sailfish, and sharks cruising for a snack. Try the SE Hole, Redtops, Jax Pier, Chum Hole, and both the North and South rips on the color break. This area is easy to spot as it signifies the water separation between the water coming out of the St. John’s River and the Ocean as it pushes against it. Slow troll live pogies, cigar minnows, or any available live bait for some great rod benders.

The inshore scene should be great for our bull red run that begins on the full moon this month. These big spawning leviathans are great sport but, remember to handle them with kid gloves and return them to the water as soon as you can. It’s also important to vent these big fish so they can spawn again. Cut ladyfish, mullet, crab and pogies are great baits that should be fished on the bottom. The edges of the St John’s River

from the big rocks all the way to the dames point bridge and beyond are good bets. The big rocks should be hit and miss with reds and tarpon and should be most active on the high outgoing tides. I like to flip live pogies on the edges of the rocks for these big marauders.

The inshore scene will be hit and miss on the tides as our water temps start to peak. As this water gets hot the fish head to deeper pockets of water and seem to bite better early in the morning and late afternoon. The preferred method is a jig and shrimp or mud minnow combo. You can look to catch reds, trout, mangrove snapper, flounder, jacks, and ladyfish with this method. Low tide or the falling tide is the preferred time..

For more fishing tips listen to the Outdoorshow radio program on 1010am or 92.5fm every Saturday from 7am to 10am. He can be reached at 904.241.7560 or 904.626.1128 or go to www. enterprisefishingcharters.com

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Fishing Report & Forecast Nassau Sound

By Capt. Tony Bozzella

Mostof this report will be very close to the July report. Hot weather fishing!! Get out early or get out late unless you were fishing the beach or trolling for king fish or other pelagic species. If you have a morning low tide, I like to get out and fish for backing redfish. Most of the time with the August doldrums, there is absolutely no wind with bright sky’s. You can really hone in on a backing fish from a long distance. With such calm, quiet and ideal conditions this month in the morning hours before the sea breezes pick up, it would most likely be best to pole your skiff to the redfish that could be very spooky in those conditions since they can feel all movements. Patience and Stealth is a must! Use baits like a TBS black Bucktail in 1/8 or 1/4 oz. This is a lure when wet holds weight for casting far and accurate with a soft landing. Once the lure is presented in front of the fish, the hair looks alive, and as that redfish approaches the bait you just move the bait very suddenly often times, It is mistaken for a fiddler crab or crustacean and you get the bite. If you were forced to fish deeper water in the early morning hours, it would not be a bad idea to work grass lines,  grass points, and over oyster beds with several great baits like top waters hard baits and spoons. It’s best to run your lure as close to the grass as you can. If you decide to throw the weedless gold spoon, it is best to throw it into the grass and pull it through with a steady retrieve. Most people do not realize that the wobble of a spoon represents swim of a crab. Both very effective lures, if you are fishing over oyster bars, and you know there are redfish lurking below, and you are not comfortable with those two lures, a weedless, soft plastic, and a dark color often works well. If you happen to decide to fish some of the warmer hours of the day, when

most of the time fish are not as active, there are plenty of what I call “fun fish,”Jack, Crevalle‘s, &  ladyfish that can be used to bend a rod and have some fun they’re hard fighting and a great way to pass time and you don’t have to be a master angler to catch them, also some of the rock piles and structure or full of mangrove snapper this month. They are also hard fighters also easy to catch with a jig and shrimp combo and they are very tasty. The one benefit of fishing the warm months, there are many species to fish for. Flounder will definitely be on the rise with fish commonly between 1 to 4 pounds again a TBS Jig in the weight class of the depth of water, you’re fishing paired with a mudminnow or finger mullet can be a deadly combination I like to hop the jig, staying in tune with it until it hits the bottom raise your rod tip and repeat. When you feel that solid thumb, be patient, real up your slack and give a solid hook set and have the net ready as flounders often come unhooked. The Mayport area structures, and docks have produced many doormats over the years. Don’t let the heat deteriorate you, get out early and get out late and you can have success.

Fishing Report & Forecast St. Augustine Offshore

By Capt. Robert Johnson

Thermocline Light Tackle time?

Every year we have a thermocline to some degree. A thermocline is when cold water is pushed from the abysmal plane up over the shelf edge. Reported bottom temperatures get as low as the mid 50s during extreme years. We have had west wind for long stretches of time this summer and that usually means a themocline. At the time of wrtiting this article we have not seen one yet. But rest assured it will come. The result is some tough bottom fishing.

up high in the water the fun begins.

Proper anchoring and chumming are critical if you are to be successful. You want to position your boat up tide of the school of fish. If it’s Amberjack, Cobia and African pompano that you are after jigs are very effective if you don’t have live bait. My favorite color is blue and white and 4 to 8 ounce depending on the tide. Work the jig vertically through the water column and you will be in business.

If your target is Mangrove snapper light line with a fluorocarbon leader is a must. I use 25#. Use just enough weight to make your bait slowly fall towards the bottom. A good chum line will also help get the fishes attention. We usually cut up Spanish sardines but any oily fish will work.

Some years the deeper water escapes the effects of the thermocline so you might move closer to the shelf edge if you’re after Vermillion’s, Triggers and Grouper. Mutton Snapper are more plentiful now. So lighter longer leaders and smaller hooks with cigar minnows or sardines can be deadly for the larger Muttons near the big ledge of 160 and deeper.

The bottom seems to be void of life and in some cases all you mark is the structure. The best plan is to target the species that will get up high in the water column above the cold water. On this list are Amberjack, Cobia, African Pompano and Mangrove snapper. The lack of forage fish results in some great fishing if you can locate the spots where they are holding. Skip the small stuff. Your best bet is large wrecks and ledges in 100 to 140 ft. of water. Once you have found a spot that is holding fish

Kingfish closer in on the near shore reefs have been good. The thermocline does not seem to effect the Kingfish as much as the bottom dwellers. Slow trolling live pogys and dead Ribbonfish if you can find them are the bait of choice. Its been a decent summer for Kingfish here in north fla.

By September the cold water will move out and things will get back to normal.

“Let’s Go Fishing”

Captain Robert Johnson

(904)540-2628

Jodielynncharters.com

WHY GRADY?

Fishing Report & Forecast St. Augustine Inshore

By Capt. Tommy Derringer

It’sbeach time baby! Right now, along our beaches, just outside the surf, there are pogies (menhaden) getting chased, thrashed, and eaten by one of many predatory fish that roam our waters this time of year. Tarpon, kingfish, huge jacks and sharks are just some of the monster sea creatures waiting for you to hook into for the fight of your life! A great all-around rig to catch just about all those fish is to put a live pogy on a circle hook and cast just around the edges of the pods. Getting an early start will also increase your chances of hooking up along the beach as the feeding frenzy tends to taper off as it heats up and the sun gets higher in the sky.

By now tarpon should be thick along the beach gorging themselves on the pogys, but another fun way to catch the silver king in our region is to hunt them behind the shrimp boats. Summertime brings the shrimp boats within a mile or so of the beach. Look for the boats that have birds hanging around, as those are the ones getting ready to or just recently dumped their by-catch overboard. Approach the shrimp boats from behind and be very aware

of any rigging they may have in the water. It’s as simple as going slow and looking at what’s feeding on the by-catch. Net a few of the floating fish and use them for bait. When you see a tarpon gulping down bycatch just toss your bait in the chum line and hold on. If you don’t see any tarpon you’re sure to see a ton of big sharks and they will definitely put a bend in the rod.

Inshore, the best bite will be early from first light to about 9am when things start to heat up. When it gets hot the fish will slow down and not be nearly as aggressive. At first light a top-water really can’t be beat this time of year as redfish and trout will be willing to give serious chase and devour a Berkley J-Walker plug. Once the sun gets up a bit, you’ll want to change to something sub-surface like the Saltwater Assassin paddle tail. I like to rig them on a 1/8 oz. or ¼ oz. jighead to help keep the bait down where the fish will be. The deeper creek holes will be a good bet once the heat of the day sets in. A live mud minnow or shrimp pegged to a jighead will also work well when fishing deeper.

With the murky “Summer” water settling in it’s a great time to use some baits with either scent, flash, or noise makers in them. One of the offerings from Fishbites under a popping cork is a no-brainer for this time of year as it cover the scent and the noise. A gold spoon or spinner bait is also a good choice when searching for redfish on a higher tide in murky water. They give off plenty of flash and the thump from the spoon or spinner blade can call a fish in in the murkiest of waters.

Capt.

Fishing Report & Forecast Fernandina / Amelia Island

By Terry D. Lacoss

The temperature is typically hot during the month of August, but the fishing action is hotter than July fireworks!

Big schools of 40–200-pound tarpon, also referred to as the “Silver King” are plentiful along the pristine beaches of Amelia Island and at both the St. Mary’s and Nassau Inlets. However, the most consistent tarpon action can be had while fishing at the tip of the St. Mary’s inlet during the last of the in-coming tide. Anchoring your boat at the just south of the tip of the south jetty rocks and fishing dead on the bottom with live mullet, menhaden, or with a large chunk of cut bait is key.

Many tarpon fishing seasons ago legendary angler Roland Martin and I teamed up for a 200-pound tarpon at the tip of the South Jetty rocks! Roland’s record-breaking tarpon was measured, length and girth to estimate its total weight. Using the formula “length times girth squared, divided by eight hundred.

Standard tarpon tackle includes 20-50-pound braided fishing line with a 3-4 foot section of 80-100 pound mono shock leader followed by a 7/0 circle hook. A fish finder sleeve is attached to the main line which allows different size weights to be exchanged depending on the strength of the current/tide. A small piece of picture hanging wire replaces the standard clip when attaching the weight to the finder sleeve. This allows the heavy weight to be released during the tarpon’s first head shaking leap.

Barb the menhaden from the bottom of the mouth through the top of the head while cutting the tail off which allows the scent to seep out into the water. Chumming is critical while cutting menhaden up into small pieces and slowly tossing overboard while creating a deep-water chum slick. Tarpon fishermen should attach a large bouy to their anchor line so that the anchor can be released when a wide shouldered tarpon spends most of your fishing line from your saltwater fishing reel. Also keep in mind the old saying “Drop the Rod Tip” when the silver king is in the middle of a big jump, should not apply to Northeast Florida tarpon. Once the hook is set, keep the rod tip Up!

series of #4-4-X treble hooks and free lining the live bait far back in their tarpon chum slick. Bonus catches while targeting tarpon include kingfish, cobia, and Spanish mackerel. Fishing on the bottom with cut baits will also produce “Bull” redfish, sharks, and more.

Casting a live finger mullet, live shrimp, or mud minnow barbed with a ¼ ounce led head jig up close to the jetty rocks will produce a variety of light tackle game fish including seatrout, redfish, flounder, and bluefish. One of the better areas of the St. Mary’s jetty rocks includes the southside of the south jetties about halfway from the tip of the rocks to the beach where there are several low areas in the rocks. During a past August fishing trip to the south jetty rocks, Glenda Crosby caught and released a fifty-pound “Bull” redfish while fishing with light tackle spinning gear!

Redfish will be tailing in the many bays and backwaters of Amelia Island during the last of the in-coming tide. As soon as the tide begins to fall, redfish will quickly disappear from the flooded marsh flats and move to deep turns in the tidal rivers and bays. Best lure includes a 1/8th ounce led head jig and Berkley Gulp shrimp in the “New Penny” color pattern.

Beach fishing is excellent early in the morning when there is a light southwest wind at the southern portion of Amelia Island. Bring along a sand rake for capturing sand fleas in the shallow surf. Sand fleas are excellent baits for a variety of game fish holding in the surf including pompano, sea trout, flounder, whiting, and more. A second choice would be ultra fresh shrimp!

Offshore fishing is also excellent during the entire month of August showcasing large schools of king mackerel weighing from 5-40 pounds, cobia, Spanish mackerel, and more. Bring along a Sabki bait catcher rig and jig up a live well full of live minnows for both trolling and bottom fishing.

Fishermen are not allowed to bring tarpon out of the water and into a boat unless they have a tarpon tag. For more information on tarpon regulations please visit www.myfwc.com.

Tarpon fishermen will also benefit by rigging a live menhaden to a

One of the better offshore fish havens offshore of Amelia Island is the popular FA fish haven. All offshore fish havens should be marked on your chart recorder..

For more information and charters, call Amelia Angler Outfitters (904) 261-2870, or visit www.ameliaangler.com

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TIDE CHART - August

Mayport Degaussing Structure

Fuel up. Cast out.

Ethanol-free gasoline is available at these GATE locations.

9540 San Jose Blvd., Jacksonville

570 Busch Drive, Jacksonville

4100 Heckscher Drive, Jacksonville

200, Yulee

son St., Jacksonville

wn Center Parkway, Jacksonville

0 Baymeadows Road, Jacksonville

Center Drive, Jacksonville

tic Blvd., Jacksonville

Ponte Vedra Beach

01 Monument Road, Jacksonville

McCormick Road, Jacksonville

ate Road 56, Wesley Chapel

County Road 136, White Springs

Valley Road, Ponte Vedra

Pavilion Drive, St Johns

3210 U.S. Highway 17 S., Orange Park

5000-60 U.S. Highway 17, Fleming Island

7099 Collins Road, Jacksonville

686 Blanding Blvd., Orange Park

10980 U.S. Highway 1 N., Jacksonville

4511 San Juan Ave., Jacksonville

450 Park Street, Jacksonville

10970 U.S. Highway 1 N., Ponte Vedra Beach

2350 State Road 16, St Augustine

1900 Mizell Road, (SR312), St Augustine

1605 Race Track Road, Jacksonville

3011 International Golf Parkway, St Augustine

12705 Durbin Lake Drive, Jacksonville

2520 S. 3rd Street, Jacksonville Beach

12548 San Jose Blvd., Jacksonville Serving

Oh Snap! Red Snapper Fishing Tournament Winners

JACKSONVILLE

BEACH, FL. –– July 15, 2023 –– The third annual Oh Snap! Fishing Red Snapper Fishing Tournament concluded with a multitude of local anglers participating in the one-day tournament that coincided with the NOAA Fisheries recreational Atlantic red snapper season. Participants from five counties across Northeast Florida joined their friends and families on the water to reel in the biggest Red Snapper while raising funds for K9s For Warriors.

This year’s tournament brought new winners in all three categories, crowned during the award ceremony on Saturday, July 15th. Main tournament champion, Louis and Matt Joseph from Outta Line Fishing, took home the top prize of $5,000, a large trophy and bragging rights for the year, with a snapper weighing in at 21.64 pounds. Other winners included:

Main Tournament Category

First place: Louis Joseph, 21.64

Second place: Head Hunter, 20.68

Third place: Danny Patrick, 20.42

Lady Angler Category

First place: Melissa Russell, 18.04

Second place: vanessa Yakimchuk, 17.2

Third place: Kendall Lang, 16.44

Strike Zone Fishing Junior Angler Category

First place: Louie Joseph, 21.42

Second place: Brendan Nutty, 18.16

Third place: Matthew Merritt, 16.66

Mystery Weight Category

Timothy Ward from Team SeaWard

“We had a great turnout for our third annual tournament,” said Dave Berg, Oh Snap! Fishing Tournament Director. “It’s always a great time to see friends and family enjoying our local waters together with some friendly competition thrown in. We are thankful for all the anglers who participated and helped us make a difference in our community. We are already looking forward to next year’s competition –– we hope to see you there.”

The charitable tournament, which debuted last year in alignment with the limited recreational Atlantic red snapper fishing season, raised money for local nonprofit, K9s For Warriors.

The 4th annual tournament will be scheduled for 2 days next year on both Friday & Saturday, July XX, 2024; registration will open in February 2024 with entry fees starting at $100.

For more information about the Oh Snap! Red Snapper Fishing Tournament and for images from this year’s event, visit ohsnapfishing. com

Experience Real Florida.

Located within two hours driving distance to all major attractions in central Florida, international airports and Florida’s beautiful beaches, Putnam County’s outdoor recreational choices are legendary. Between world class fishing, boating, hunting, cycling, hiking, golf, and more, Putnam County has it all. Whether you are seeking real Florida culture and heritage, recreation, or just relaxing in a small historic town, the residents and businesses of Putnam County invite you to Experience Real Florida

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Nassau Sport Fishing Association

Ithas been a busy summer for the NSFA. First we concluded the late spring season of our club Fish of the Season competition. Then in June, we awarded our annual scholarships to local yout, and this month, NSFA is hosting the Fernandina Beach, SKA sanctioned, Kingfish Tournament and Fishing Rodeo. Look to this space next month for results of that tournament.

Each year NSFA awards 3 scholarships to local rising seniors. These scholarships are funded by various club fund raising activities. This year the club awarded $18,000 in scholarships including 3 $4000 scholarships and an additional 3 $2000 merit scholarships. The recipients of the 2023 $4,000 NSFA scholarships are Cole Harris and Amelia Cutshaw from Fernandina Beach High School, and Madison Hicken from Yulee High School. Cole will attend the East Georgia State and pursue a degree in exercise science. Amelia will attend the University of Florida and major in biomedical engineering. Madison will attend the University of Florida and pursue a degree in pre-law. The recipients of the $2,000 Merit Scholarships are Gannon Kassab from Hilliard Middle High, Ryan Demario from Fernandina Beach High, and Ana Rodriguez from West Nassau High. Gannon will pursue a degree in nursing at Florida State College Jacksonville, Ryan will major in computer science at the

University of Florida, and Ana will pursue a political science degree at the University of Central Florida.

Congratulations to this year’s recipients and we look forward to your continued academic success.

The late spring Fish of the season concluded June 30 with 16 fish weighed in for our 3 target species. The leaders this season were:

Kingfish- Brad Reese 9.97#, Marvin Washington 8.16#, Scott Tinman 8.15#

Pompano- Larry Hubbard 2.29#, J. Giansante 2.13#, M Zagrodny 1.84# Redfish- Brad Reese 7.86#, Grant Baudek (youth) 6.42#, Trisha Glenn 6.03#

Elsewhere in the surf, the water has been clean and whiting and the occasional pompano still here should be available.

NSFA meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month at Kraft Athletic Club on Amelia Island. Join us 26-July for our monthly social gathering. If interested in joining, please visit our website at NSFAFISH. NET or stop by one of our meetings.

As always, Stay Safe, healthy, and we will see you on the water!

Photo: Capt. Tommy Derringer

A Relentlessly sharp blade...

Product review

For centuries, knife makers have tried to solve the problem of “edge dulling” by focusing on improving the rate of wear by making the blade as hard as possible so it wears more slowly and stays sharp as long as possible. The problem with this approach is that the blade edge will become dull and the harder the blade, the harder it is to sharpen, and the more brittle the edge.

The revolutionary Relentless™ Fillet Knife takes a completely different approach, focusing on the way the blade wears instead of the rate of wear. Relentless’ patented Perpetual Edge™ Technology was inspired by nature’s solution to preventing edge wear and replicated the self sharpening teeth of the beaver, which has a relatively soft “dentin” back side and a really hard, iron-fortified enamel on the front. This creates a differential in hardness between the front and the back and which allows the softer dentin back to wear more quickly relative to the harder iron-fortified front edge and leaving a thin, razor sharp edge. This is, essentially, a perpetual, lifelong edge that sharpens as it cuts.

laser deposition. The carbide and diamond compound acts like the ironfortified enamel on the beaver tooth, creating a differential hardness and resulting in a sharp perpetual edge that continually sharpens as you use it. This patented Perpetual Edge™ Technology is exclusive to Relentless and unlike anything else on the market.

Invariably, the first thing people notice on a Relentless™ Fillet Knife is the extreme grippiness of the True Grit handle. The handle is made of a glass reinforced ABS but covered with the same gritty material used to create the non-slip surface found adjacent to swimming pools. This ensures you won’t lose your grip while filleting even if you have wet or slimy hands. The black True Grit surface is also “faceted” meaning it scatters light in every direction which means it is non-reflective and will never get hot, even if left in the hot sun.

The Relentless™ Fillet Knife blade is made of relatively soft titanium which wears quickly like dentin. A strip of ultra-hard carbide or crushed diamond compound is bonded to the titanium base metal via spark and

Relentless™ Knives feature a 100% aerospace grade titanium blade. Titanium is extremely lightweight, which means less wrist fatigue while filleting, and extraordinarily strong. But, most important, titanium is extremely resistant to corrosion and degradation. In other words, a Relentless™ Knife will never rust. This is an ideal attribute for a fillet knife, especially for the saltwater angler.

FLORIDA’S WATERS NEED YOUR HELP!

Anglers, your help is needed: Florida’s waters are in serious trouble.

Even a partial list of facts demonstrates the broad failure of Florida’s environmental regulatory system to protect our waters.

• Red tides have increased dramatically in frequency, duration and intensity.

• South Florida is bracing for yet another summer of massive blue-green algae blooms.

• Nearly a million acres of estuaries and 9,000 miles of rivers and streams are contaminated with fecal bacteria.

• Seagrass beds are on the brink of a death spiral.

• Eighty percent of our 1,000 springs are polluted.

• No state has lost more acres of wetlands.

• No state has more acres of polluted lake water. When it comes to our polluted waters, the buck stops with the state. Florida waters su er because our state government permits pollution and environmental degradation through its actions and inactions.

e primary problem is special interests, such as big agriculture, big development and big mining, which wield undue in uence over legislators and thus environmental policy. It’s pro t over public interest.

In 2020, looking to clean up their polluted waterways themselves, an astounding 89 percent of Orange County voters approved a Right to Clean Water/Rights of Nature charter amendment.

e state legislature swi ly took that right away by preempting the authority of local governments statewide from passing such laws. If you want proof that a rights-based approach to protecting our waters would be e ective, it’s right there.

at preemption le Floridians with only one viable course of action: amend our state constitution to give all Floridians a fundamental right to clean and healthy waters, a right beyond the reach of legislators. e amendment is indefeasible and self-executing; it can’t be annulled or compromised by the legislature.

is fundamental right would be on par with other fundamental rights such as the right to free speech and the right to bear arms.

Given how critical clean water is to Floridians, we merit this right. We need this right. With it enshrined in our constitution, we can hold state government accountable when it permits pollution and degradation of our waters and aquatic ecosystems.

To get on the 2024 ballot, 891,589 signed and approved petitions are needed by Nov. 30, 2023.

Go to FloridaRightToCleanWater.org to read the full text of the amendment. Browse the FAQs. Note the growing list of over 150 organizations and businesses supporting this amendment.

CONSTITUTIONAL

Learn that this right doesn’t mean your neighbor can sue you for fertilizing your lawn, or that there will be a proliferation of lawsuits. It means our government must provide real remedies for polluted waterways. en, if you are a registered Florida voter, print out, sign, and mail the petition. Get family and friends to do the same.

Florida waters depend upon it, and we all depend upon clean water.

Visit FloridaRightToCleanWater.org for more ways you can help make a di erence.

Ballot Title:

Ballot Summary:

Amendment Information

Right to Clean and Healthy Waters

This amendment creates a fundamental right to clean and healthy waters. The amendment may be used to sue State executive agencies for harm or threatened harm to Florida’s waters, which include aquatic ecosystems. This amendment defines terms, identifies affected constitutional provisions in Article IV governing the executive branch, provides for civil action enforcement, allows attorney’s and expert witness fees to prevailing plaintiffs, and provides equitable remedies including restoration of waters.

See separate document for the full text of the proposed constitutional amendment.

04/22/2022 2202 Date Approved Serial Number

Sponsor's Information (Return all completed petition forms to the address below.) Name: Address:

FloridaRighttoCleanWater.org

13300 South Cleveland Avenue Suite 56 Fort Myers, FL 33907

Voter's Information

I am a registered voter of Florida and hereby petition the Secretary of State to place the above proposed amendment to the Florida Constitution on the ballot in the general election.

Address

Update my voter registration record to this address. (check box)

Petition Circulator's Information

This Petition form is only to be collected by a volunteer or directly by the voter him or herself.

A paid petition circulator must use the DS-DE 155B version of the form. Forms for paid petition circulators can be obtained from the Division's Paid Petition Circulator website. Visit https://dos.elections.myflorida.com/InitiativePetitions/ for more information.

Attention

• This form becomes a public record once filed with the Supervisor of Elections.

• It is a first degree misdemeanor to knowingly sign the same petition more than once. [§104.185, F.S.]

• An improperly completed form will not be validated.

DS-DE 155A (10-2021) R1S-2.009, Fla. Admin. Code

THROW A WACKY RIG TO GET BIT!

TYLER WOOLCOTT

Have you ever heard the saying, “going catching, not shing?”

Well, there’s a technique that will help you do just that. More than any other bait I can think of, a wacky rig gets bit at any time, under any conditions. If you haven’t heard of a wacky rig, it’s simply a Senko-style bait with a hook through the very center of the worm.

ere are a few reasons this bait outperforms many others when it comes to getting bites. First o , it is versatile when it comes to areas where you can throw it. I wacky rig with a weedless hook, which allows me to pretty much put this bait anywhere. Hayabusa makes an awesome hook called the Wacky Fluoro Guard that is completely weedless and helps you sh through cover. What kind of cover? e options are endless. Docks, grass, wood and rocks are some of the places I’ll throw a wacky rig.

I use a spinning rod with a wacky rig, which allows easier casts, especially when skipping the bait under cover most people can’t reach. A wacky rig skips extremely well, and this lets you reach sh that might never have seen a bait before. e natural falling shimmy action of the Senko drives sh absolutely crazy. It will catch bass when nothing else seems to be working.

For colors, I like green pumpkin or some type of brown when the water is clear. If there’s some stain to the water, I use a darker color like junebug or redbug to help it stand out. In muddy water, the silhouette of a darker bait is what the bass pick up on.

Typically, the slower you sh a wacky rig, the better. I throw it or skip it under and around cover and then let it sink for a few seconds. A lot of times, bass will eat it on the initial fall. If not, I give it a few small twitches or a pull of the rod to cover some area. Repeat this process a few times until your bait leaves the strike zone. If there is a sh around, it will bite.

Wacky Rig Gear

A spinning rod is ideal for this technique. I like a shorter rod for more accurate casts and skips. e 13 Fishing Defy 7’1” medium is an awesome rod for a wacky rig, and it’s super a ordable. Pair it with your favorite 2000 or 3000 size reel, and spool up with 10-pound Seaguar Smackdown braid. I use a uorocarbon leader to help keep the line visibility down. A 10- to 15-pound leader works, depending on the type of cover I am targeting. Seaguar Abrazx is an awesome uorocarbon line that I use for most of my spinning rod leaders.

Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament angler and guide. Check out his website at www.tylerwoolcott shing.com.

Surf Expo, the premier watersports and coastal lifestyle tradeshow, enhances the buying experience for both watersports and out tter retailers with the debut of its new Shoreline o ering during the Sept. 7-9, 2023 edition.

Shoreline at Surf Expo will feature products dedicated to technical apparel, equipment and gear any enthusiast needs to transition from a day on the water to stretching out on land.

“From the trails to the lakes and beyond, Shoreline at Surf Expo supports the natural evolution of the waterman’s lifestyle with gear, apparel and accessories that will take consumers from coastal shoreline activities into camping, hiking, climbing and other recreational activities found along rivers and lakes,” said Roy Turner, Emerald SVP and Surf Expo Show Director.

Shoreline is positioned to become the hub for industry-leading retailers and brands focusing on shing, boating, wakeboarding, technical apparel, outerwear, camping, watersports hardgoods as well as essential gear and accessories.

e newest oor category complements Surf Expo’s extensive product o erings—Surf, Skate, Paddle and Bluewater—by targeting the business associated with outdoor amenities and recreation found in lake towns across the country.

Eric Marvin, founder of Elakai Outdoor, is exhibiting outdoor games within the new Shoreline category. Some games include cornhole, bocce ball, croquet and more. While this is Marvin’s rst year participating at Surf Expo, he knows it will be the right t for his business.

“Our products can be used on the beach, by the lake or near the ocean. Exhibiting at Surf Expo is a natural t for who we are as a business and what the Shoreline category is all about,” said Marvin.

Shoreline will also create a seamless connection with Surf Expo’s Bluewater category, which showcases notable inshore and o shore apparel and accessory products ranging from lifestyle and technical apparel to footwear, outerwear, sportswear, T-shirts, sunglasses and much more.

“Blending the inshore and o shore worlds under Surf Expo’s one roof exposes buyers and sellers to this growing crossover market within the coastal lifestyle industry,” added Turner.

SHORELINE & BLUEWATER EXHIBITING BRANDS INCLUDE:

Ronix Wake/ Radar Skis, Columbia OCS, MANG, Hest, Bimini Bay Out tters, Burnside Sierra Paci c Apparel, Elakai, Fahlo, HEST, Kracken Adventure Bikes, Intracoastal Waterway, Kanga Coolers, Lowtides Ocean Product, Line + Cleat, Pirani, Preston 1947 by Ebinger Brothers, Promo & More, Sunski, Sunburn Drink, e Grateful Diver, XTRATUF, Welly Bottle, and ZEP-PRO.

Summer-Long Fishing Competition Engages Youth Anglers

CCA Florida’s summer-long STAR shing competition o ers anglers a shot at more than $500,000 in prizes, with $100,000 in youth scholarships and invites anglers of all ages and skill levels to walk away with prizes from new boats to scholarships and more.

“Since we launched STAR in Florida, we’ve seen anglers catch more, release more, support the recovery of our state’s marine resources and walk away with new boats, scholarships and amazing new gear at the same time,” said STAR Director Leiza Fitzgerald. “Since the start of the competition, we’ve awarded anglers with over $2 million in prizes, including $800,000 in scholarships and two new ski s to youth anglers across the state.”

e 2023 STAR competition ends Sept. 4 and includes 15 divisions targeting 12 species both inshore and o shore. Awesome boat, motor, trailer packages and cash prizes and more will be awarded for di erent divisions.

STAR and its scholarship partners also provide tremendous incentives to engage youth in shing and conservation. For only a $10 New Tide Membership, youth ages 6 to 17 can enjoy free registration in STAR and participate to win boats, scholarships, other great prizes and earn community service hours.

At the conclusion of the competition, scholarship winners will be determined by a random drawing of all eligible photo entries.

Registered youth anglers may submit one photo a day of their sh on the 2023 STAR O cial STAR measuring device of the following species: lady sh, jack crevalle, sheepshead, snapper, snook, spotted seatrout, red sh, tarpon, grouper, dolphin or king sh.

e STAR Youth Scholarship Division presented by Realtree Fishing, o ers $100,000 in scholarships: two $25,000 scholarships presented by Realtree Fishing and e Slade Kerr Family and 10

$5,000 scholarships. is year Academy Sports + Outdoors, Florida Cracker Tournaments, e Plantation Inn Red sh Classic, Sodium Fishing Gear and Millers Boating Center join Coastal Conservation Association Florida, Southeast Environmental Solutions, Florida Sports Coast, Florida Sport shing Association, Phillips & Jordan and Tailin Toads Apparel as partners in presenting the $5,000 scholarships for 2023.

e Tagged Red sh Division Youth Prizes include two ski s, complete with Minn Kota trolling motors and Humminbird electronics and powered with Yamaha Outboards sitting on a trailer. e Tagged Dolphin Division o ers a $10,000 scholarship if the rst tagged dolphin is caught by a New Tide member.

Youth anglers also have another wonderful opportunity in the Costa Kick Plastic Trash Division presented by Papa’s Pilar. Youth participants can pick up garbage from the water or a shoreline during the competition and get rewarded. ey must submit a photo of the 5-gallon buckets full of trash for a shot at a $1,500 prize package, Kahuna Wagon, sunglasses certi cate and other great prizes. For every 5-gallon bucket of garbage a STAR Youth participant submits, they will also be provided with 30 minutes of community service hours.

For a full list of divisions, visit cca star.com.

For more information on STAR, or to register, visit the Facebook page or cca star.com.

By TAM Sta

CRAPPIE TIPS for Deep Summer

Spring is long gone and so are the quick limits of shallow-water crappie. at doesn’t mean you can’t go load the cooler with some slabs for a sh fry; it just means you’ll have to work a little harder. Here are a few tips to help you catch crappie when the weather and water are hot.

Trust the Electronics: Sonar is your best friend when crappie move deep. You might know where good brush and structure are on your lake, but you won’t know where the schools of crappie are until you spot them on the graph. Use side-scan to look under docks and around points, ledges, ditches and creek and river channels. Don’t even bother wetting a line until you’ve located sh with your electronics.

Find the Shade: Crappie don’t like the sun, and deepwater docks or piers can be the mother lode on bright days. Even underwater structure like ledges, humps and creek channels provide shade. Pay attention to the location of the sun, and then start searching the side of a given piece of structure that will provide some shade.

Go Early: ere’s no sense baking in the sun for a few sh when you can load the boat in just a few hours before and a er daybreak. Boat tra c and water temps are both lower in the morning, which means crappie and the small bait sh they feed on will be most active. In the morning, crappie move shallower up on the humps and ledges to chase bait. ey are more likely to bite when they are actively feeding.

Troll the Humps: O shore humps that top out at 15 feet or deeper will hold crappie this time of year. ey’re even better when there’s brush on them. Early and late, or if there is some dam-generated current, the sh will move

up to feed on these humps. ey suspend o the sides when the sun is high or the water is still. Slowly pull a spread of jigs or small, deep-diving crankbaits or spoons over and around humps where you’ve located sh. Pay close attention to how deep your lures are getting and add weight if you need to get them deeper.

Shoot Docks: Main-lake docks with 15 or more feet of water under them are comfortable places for crappie to hang out when the water is warm. Shoot lightweight jigs as far under these docks as you can, and let them sink slowly to the bottom before beginning a steady retrieve. If there are sh under a dock, they usually won’t let that jig hit the bottom.

Drown a Minnow: A school of crappie suspended o structure at 15 or 25 feet over a 40-foot bottom can be a frustrating scenario. You see them on your electronics, but they are slow to bite. Try dropping a live minnow down there where you’re marking sh. en just let it sit. e bites will be light, so pay attention.

PHOTOS BY NICK CARTER

Re-Discover Old Florida Waterfront Charm

The Perfect Vacation Getaway for Fishing, Boating & Outdoor Enthusiasts

n a dark, muggy morning, we eased into Campo’s Marina in Shell Beach, Louisiana.

By Gary Turner

We picked up 150 live shrimp for our rst day, and every morning began the same way for the rest of the week.

5 a.m., and it would be getting light at 5:30.For some of us— Dewayne and Blake Pro t, Darrel and I—this was the rst time we had been to Shell Beach in search of giant red sh,

Nestled on six lush tropical acres of pristine waterfront directly on the Indian River Lagoon, take a step back in time to experience the very best of Old Florida charm with modern conveniences and services to make your stay truly memorable and unforgettable.

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Sailfsh House features a wide covered wrap-around porch for larger groups

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massive sheepshead and gator trout. Touted as the “Best Inshore Fishing in the World,” Shell Beach did not disappoint! e red sh shing was incredible! We hooked some giants, some we never even saw!

We shed spinning gear and 17- to 20-pound line with 2/0 circle hooks baited with either live shrimp or chunks of fresh blue crab. We also used two di erent techniques. Some of us popped a Cajun under cork. I used a Carolina rig, with the weight on my line, then a barrel swivel and an 18-inch leader terminating in my 2/0 BKK circle hook with a live shrimp.

Now… back to the sh we never saw! We shed some ats right where the tall marsh grass met the canals. e water was usually less than a foot deep. We would cast right next to the grass and wait for sh that were cruising this edge in search of food. en it was on! Your line would cut a wake as the sh ran for deep water and peeled drag. ese sh used any structure or rocks they could nd to break o . Even when they ran to deep water, they just kept going. We broke several lines before deciding to pull up anchor and chase the next big one.

at worked well, so we started chasing down lots of big red sh. Blake hooked one with the popping cork that broke him o . Later, we spotted the cork in the shallows and eased up to try to net it. Just as we got to it, the sh took o and was never seen again.

e days were hot, in the low to mid 90s with pop-up thunderstorms every day. One day we even spotted two waterspouts. We did our best to dodge all that, but we did get wet a few times. e last 30 minutes of daylight were always the most productive. We shed rock walls and hooked up several big red sh each evening. Mixed in with the red sh were some giant sheepshead that fell for the same tactics as the reds. Blue crabs are everywhere. You can catch them with a long-handle dip net or rod and reel.

Shell Beach is in St. Bernard Parish on the Gulf Outlet Canal near Lake Borgne, just 30 minutes from New Orleans. We plan on going back next year.

Check out Gary Turner’s YouTube channel @FishingMagicWithGary.

O

NORSE BY NORSEWEST?

Embrace your Scandinavian side with a 7" blade

If you looked out your window a thousand years ago and saw a fleet of Viking longships coming your way,you knew you were in trouble. For roughly two centuries, the Vikings voyaged, raided and pillaged wherever they pleased. As expert sailors and navigators, they reached as far from Scandinavia as Iran, Constantinople, North Africa and the New World in their quest to expand their kingdom.

A mini sword. Too organized and too aggressive, no one stood in a Viking’s way. That’s exactly the message that our Viking Blade sends. Crafted from Damascus steel with brass inlay, this 12" full-tang knife is essentially a mini sword. Paired with its hand-tooled leather sheath, this knife belongs in the collection of any avid aficionado.

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The steel of legend. For centuries, a Damascus steel blade was instantly recognizable and commanded respect. Renowned for its sharp edge, beauty and resistance to shattering, Damascus steel was the stuff of legend. While the original process has been lost to the ages, modern bladesmiths have been able to re-create Damascus steel to create the best blades imaginable.

Sure to impress, naturally. Combining natural strength and natural wonder at a price that’s hard to beat, the Viking Blade is a study in Damascus steel that’s sure to impress. And should you ever find yourself facing a Viking horde, a flash of this knife will show that you’re not to be messed with.

Don’t delay: Order within the next week and we’ll offer this blade to you for just $99, a savings of $200! That’s the best bang for your buck we can possibly offer: our Stauer® Impossible Price. Get your hands on one of the fastest-selling knives in our company’s history today.

Knife Specifications:

• 12" overall length. 7" Damascus full-tang blade

•Includes genuine leather sheath

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Tennessee Angler Breaks His Own State Record

Aer a grueling 15-minute battle while shing solo, angler Micka Burkhart successfully netted and boated a 122-pound blue cat sh from Tennessee’s Cumberland River on June 28. e sh is a pending state record that should top the 118.7-pound record mark, which Burkhart set himself at Barkley Reservoir last September.

e whole ght can be viewed on a video posted to Burkhart’s YouTube channel, with the action climaxing as Burkhardt breathlessly pleads with the sh and promises to release it if he can just get it in the net.

Burkhart’s monster blue o cially weighed 122.3 pounds and measured 57.5 inches long, with a 42.25-inch girth. It ate a white bass head shed on 40-pound-test line. A er transporting the sh in a large livewell on his trailered boat to get o cial measurements, Burkhart returned to the Cumberland River and successfully released it back to the Stewart County stretch in northwest Tennessee near the Kentucky and Missouri borders. In a Facebook post, Burkhart reported that he also caught 69- and 72-pound blue cats on the same day. at’s a mighty ne day of shing.

e IGFA all-tackle world record blue cat sh weighed 143 pounds, even. It was caught from Kerr Lake, Virginia by Richard Nicholas Anderson in June of 2011.

The Return of a

To watch Burkhart catching the new state record, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ni4BPAaEng&t=1s

This Is How You Walk the Walk

Comfort and class go hand in hand with our Walking Stick Collection. Yours for ONLY $59 each!

They call walking the “perfect exercise.” It gets your heart pumping, clears your head and fills your lungs with fresh air. Not bad, but we found a way to make it even better. Before you take your next 10,000 steps, add a little strut to your stroll. Take a Stauer Walking Stick anywhere and I promise that you’ll feel like a conquering hero. Heads will turn. Doors will open. Its powers will astound you.

What’s the secret? Pure class. Our Stauer Walking Sticks are a tip of the top hat to turn-of-the-century tradition. Today these tributes to a gentleman’s power, prestige, and posture are fetching as much as $200,000 at auction. But only Stauer can deliver a modern version of these vintage classics that looks and feels as good as the original for $59 each!

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1-800-333-2045

PRAISE FOR STAUER WALKING STICKS

Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. Experience the comfort and class of our exquisite Walking Sticks for 30 days. If you’re not feeling the power and prestige, simply send it back within 30 days for a refund of the item price. At Stauer, we walk the talk. Limited Edition. Only 500 each available for this ad only! These handcrafted beauties take months to craft and are running (not walking) out the door. So, take a step in the right direction. Call today!

“An excellent walking stick. Solid and elegant. Perfect for a night out. Well crafted.”

– J. from Pacific Grove, CA

Your Insider Offer Code: WSC286-01 You must use the insider offer code to get our special price.

14101 Southcross Drive W., Ste 155, Dept. WSC286-01 Burnsville, Minnesota 55337 www.stauer.com

*Discount is only for customers who use the offer code versus the listed original Stauer.com price.

Stauer… Afford the Extraordinary . ®

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A Time of Porpoise

Amemorable beach moment: You’re basking in the warm sun, toes in the sand, letting the gentle turn of the foam-capped waves lull you into a state of complete relaxation. As your eyes scan the endless horizon of blue on blue, you’re rewarded with a school of dolphins making their way across the sea.

There’s no denying their signature shape as they leap from the water. If you don’t see anything else extraordinary the rest of day, you can take solace knowing you’ve witnessed one of nature’s most playful and human-like creatures in their natural habitat.

Why not re-create that special moment with our Balinese Dolphin Pendant? We’ve captured two dolphins mid-jump in sterling silver crafted in the Balinese style. Tucked between these beloved sea mammals is a full carat of shimmering blue topaz. Made by some of Indonesia’s finest artisans, this pendant is an absolute steal at JUST $29! That’s what we call our Stauer IMPOSSIBLE PRICE!

Nothing captures the shimmering color of the ocean in the midday sun like blue topaz. With its sparkling, clear blue color and high reflective index, blue topaz is one of the world’s top-selling gemstones. The Gemological Institute of America lauds topaz for its hardness, noting that blue topaz is known for its intense color that’s better than aquamarine. With this special price, you can score quite the catch. Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back. Enjoy the Balinese Dolphin Pendant for 30 days. If it doesn’t pass the test swimmingly, send it back for a full refund of the item price.

Limited reserves. This pendant is already one of our best sellers this year. A full carat of genuine blue topaz set in .925 sterling silver for this price is as rare as a dolphin sighting. We cannot guarantee availability for long. Call today! This offer is limited to the first 1,900 responders to this ad!

Jewelry Specifications:

• Made in Indonesia

• Blue topaz and .925 sterling silver

Balinese Dolphin Pendant (1 carat)

$299 $29* Save $270

*Special price only for customers using the offer code.

1-800-333-2045

Your Insider Offer Code: DNP141-01

Impossible PriceONLY

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What Stauer Clients Are Saying About Our Topaz

“Just lovely! Would recommend it as a purchase. Thank you STAUER.” — Mary L.

One carat of shimmering blue topaz set in sterling silver for  $29